Is your bread weighing what you pay for?
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has launched islandwide inspections of bakeries and retailers to crack down on the sale of underweight bread and violations involving the display of prices and weights.During a special operation conducted, CAA officials inspected 107 shops and bakeries, including 71 bakeries, as part of efforts to ensure that bread sold to consumers meets the required weight standards.The operation found 35 cases of underweight bread. Officials also found that 85 establishments had failed to properly display the weight of bread, while 55 had failed to clearly display prices.
The CAA said officers have been instructed to conduct follow-up investigations to trace underweight bread to the bakeries where it was produced. Where violations are established, traders will be required to take immediate corrective measures, while legal action will be initiated before the relevant Magistrate’s Courts where sufficient evidence is available.A previous special operation conducted from September 1 to 3 covered 118 shops and bakeries, including 81 bakeries, and identified 54 cases of underweight bread.
Accordingly, the two operations have covered a total of 225 establishments and detected 89 cases of underweight bread.The CAA said islandwide inspections and follow-up investigations would continue, warning that strict legal action would be taken against traders and manufacturers who violate regulations and undermine consumer rights.
